The rise of the border apps

People on the move make extensive use of digital devices and tools. States also rely these tools to control channel mobility, making software an essential feature mobility borders. Various types are at heart maintaining traveller databases, deploying risk management expediting identity checks, migrants' smartphones is increasingly salient area analysis. Yet, expansion “apps,” as bordering, both internal client-facing, has not been subject sustained scholarly analysis (with some exceptions, e.g. Kocher, 2023). Understood “software applications,” apps a subset programmes designed solve specific, often singular needs (see Pressman, 2005, in Light et al., 2018). Apps kind interface, between transparency opacity, opening interfaces users while concealing proprietary platforms (Aradau 2019). However, they connect oceans data cloud device one's hand, interfacing sovereign geopolitics planetary computation (Bratton, 2016). Border security mediated through such applications, extending its reach intensity. What we call “appification” does follow simple pattern cause, effect consequence. The drivers, effects outcomes process intertwined co-constitutive. Market forces, COVID-19 pandemic, political pressures all contribute benefit from processes. proliferation “border” apps, whether for electronic travel authorizations, passenger name records (PNR), customs declarations, border clearance, vaccine passports or visa application purposes, becoming commonplace management. In each cases, interface person move—conceived user—and broader computational logic border. We consider causes, consequences appification around four axes. First, discuss catalysing role austerity pandemic catalysts; second, way speed up desirable travellers (and restrict that others); third, examine how individualize control. conclude with reflection new, unexpected actors engineers brought into work securing borders mobilities. combination social distancing during presented states opportunity further digitize necessity reduce human interactions resulted countries leapfrogging tech abandoning like paper reducing contact time turn resources process. These factors accelerated trend towards “touchless” forms authentication (e.g. facial recognition, apps) it be airline boarding cards. measures built what Walters (this issue) refers “ordinary” technologies already While governments typically increase investments management, desire bureaucracies become leaner, meaner sorting machines. Greater investment technology general, AI particular, coexists outsourcing, especially functions provide protection asylum seekers. This paradox result market where well-funded agencies committed doing cheap (Miller, part global ecosystem They emerge intersection individualized assessment public health, similar passport before them Salter, 2003). pre-existing reliance preassessment amplification extends ambitions actors. Canada, current ArriveCAN app began life means ensuring federal government's capacity enforce Quarantine Act international It emerged collaboration Public Health Agency Canada Services was compulsory much 2020–22 entering Canada. As vaccines became available, app's expanded account proof vaccination. requirement land crossings filled gap state's ability preclear preassess travellers, which previously easiest air domain PNR. EU's deployment Digital COVID Certificate, “tool reopening economies societies” (European Commission, 2023) required recognize testing certificates among various EU member states. existing infrastructure Schengen visas. US, development CBP One applications mutually constitutive relationship persistent undermining migrant rights. grounded decades anti-immigrant discourses US politics extraterritorial processing practices amplified Trump administration consolidated pandemic. case above, trends produced durable likely outlast ArriveCAN, sense emergency subsided outcry mandatory nature grew, rebranded advanced declaration, intertwining computerized kiosks many Canadian airports. Étienne Balibar (2010) noted, “polysemic”—it experienced vastly differently by different classes identities people. echoes segmentation underway people when encounter Appification more user-friendly certain travellers. Applications Mobile Passport Control (MPC), developed Department Homeland Security, intended allow complete inspection ahead arrival. builds trusted programmes, displace function seeking state advance information about “safe” citizens (Muller, 2010). Another application, Roam, pleasure boaters submit clearance formalities away post without presence officer. experience hostile precarious. Reducing interaction, eroding rights reinforcing technologically discrimination, combine self-serve benefits wealthier “safer” restrictive services aimed undocumented migrants. allows migrants schedule appointments interviews ports entry, but dogged technical issues: insufficiently close barred geolocation features requesting appointment; recognition regularly fail darker skin tones children; crashes regularly, because there too few available spots queue (Miroff, contrast Roam speaks diversity interests intentions integrate migration apps. aligned schemes, such, sharp exclusionary aspects One, indeed, most “off-load” onto mobile themselves. quasi-self-service model situated within shifts experience. harbingers reorientation population-centric understanding controls thoroughly individual one. longstanding trend, accelerate it. Recent announcements regarding prescreening airports (Transport speak individualization function, well transfer norms dissolving historical differences border/aviation have focussed suspicious objects (Canada) versus persons (US). analogous context referred Europeanization, functional spillover (similar Canada's emulation strategy) advantages “trusted travellers” extend immigration screening beyond. symptom prominence customer computing space customer, downloading rating products platform's “app store.” motivation policymakers ramifications changes enhancing convenience, off-load responsibility traveller/migrant self-service. Future efforts enhance convenience border, document-free promised IATA OneID project, give individuals power over their must manage profile. cultural ubiquity appeal ease accessibility itself down rise simplify design distribution. noted Aradau al. (2019), only opens protects amplifies authority developers, who direct impact problem definition policymaking. App developers simply Rather, crucial mediation Molnar notes her commentary algorithmic decision-making bias lines accountability any simpler. scholars drawn productively idea “street-level bureaucrat” understand everyday policing (see: Côté-Boucher, bringing together worlds code control, empowers software-level bureaucrat. inserted directly evolution critical hardware vendors whose sales processes reveal run today: cheaply, touch, maximizing collection just-in-case. cross-pollination well-established, evidenced recent controversies Silicon Valley giants' relationships military R&D, movement personnel across (Eric Hysen, Biden administration's chief officer, Google executive). aesthetic choices economy being felt world security. Like history biometrics (Browne, 2015; Pugliese, 2010), technologies—such recognition—have deeply racist sexist genealogies rendered opaque veneer clean efficient processing. Questioning potential racism guards common accepted; indicting computer embedded harder sell. Critical analyses assess interfaces, platforms, central mobility. opinions expressed this Commentary those author do necessarily reflect views Editors, Editorial Board, International Organization Migration nor John Wiley & Sons.